The Formula 1 world is full of excitement, rivalries, and danger. More than 900 drivers have competed in Formula 1 races since their inception in 1950 but only two of these were women. Lella Lombardi was the only woman to ever score in an F1 race when she received half a point in the Spanish 1975 Grand Prix. This was the last time a woman competed in the race. Why is there such a lack of female presence in F1?
The costs of the sport
Formula 1 is a very exclusive and expensive sport. The costs of reaching the F1 are high, especially considering the mechanical intricacies of the cars. Drivers need funding from large sponsors and there is no precedent for backing female racing drivers. Sponsors don’t want to take a million-dollar risk to support them. Conservative sponsors tend to want to see male drivers as world champions.
Americans can bet now on F1 races in many states where sports betting is legal. The 2024 calendar features a record number of races. Some of the types of bets they can place include the winner of the race, fastest lap times, or podium finishes.
The lack of opportunity
Females would have to have great raw talent to capture the eyes of sponsors early enough or have wealthy parents to pay for the best quality karts and training. Men start training very early, and it is easier for them to find sponsors to take them on.
It is easier for boys to picture themselves as racing drivers when they have male role models to look up to. They can picture themselves driving the new Ferrari. Girls often don’t even consider motor racing as an option for them until much later in life. It is difficult for women to compete at the same level as men when they don’t have as much early preparation and training.
Traditional views about gender
Despite the progressive attitude to engineering inventions and the like in motor racing, the industry still seems to have traditional views about gender. Until recently, scantily clad grid girls would promote sponsors and create tunnels for drivers to pass through. When the tradition ended, there was backlash and criticism. Debates are ongoing about getting the grid girls back.
As the only visible women in the F1, this would reinforce the idea that their only role in the sport was for their looks. If there were women drivers, engineers, and strategists, it would have been different.
Women in the motor racing industry
Some women have been working in the motor racing industry for many years. They may work on the commercial side, in legal teams, or in engineering roles. At Alfa Romeo, Ruth Buscombe is the Senior Strategy Engineer. Stephanie Travers, Trackside Fuel Engineer for Mercedes, recently appeared on the podium next to Sir Lewis Hamilton. He is the only black driver in the Formula 1 and one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time. Women in the industry talk about what they can do to overcome the bias and bring more women into the sport.
W Series
The W Series was launched in October 2018 and is exclusive to women. Drivers can enter for free and win a prize of $500,000. It hopes to inspire young girls to go karting and bring more females to a grassroots level. Will it succeed in its attempt to break down the difficult barriers women have to face? Will they be able to gain funding and representation? Some believe that creating a separate series for women would simply deepen the gender divide.
